While she didn't give details, Sheinbaum promised that Mexico's 2025 federal budget will keep social programs but still find significant savings to fund her infrastructure investment plans. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
Foreign investment opportunities, efforts to clean up three highly-contaminated rivers and the 2025 federal budget were among the issues President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about at her morning press conference on Thursday.
Here is a brief recap of her latest mañanera.
At her press conference Thursday, Sheinbaum told reporters about her meeting with Blackrock CEO Larry Fink. (Presidencia)
Larry Fink ‘agrees that it’s a good time for Mexico’
“There are opportunities for investment, international funds have a place in our country,” she said.
“… We agreed on many issues. For example, we spoke about the development of ports and highways, and about mixed [public-private] investment schemes that were developed with President López Obrador,” Sheinbaum said.
“All that was part of the conversation, and he agrees that it’s a good time for Mexico,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the country’s nearshoring opportunity.
Asked whether Fink made any commitment to invest a certain amount of money in Mexico, Sheinbaum said that they didn’t speak in particular about “figures.”
In 2023, flooding in Tula, Hidalgo, in September 2023 required the federal government to repair the Tula River in Tula, Hidalgo. The Mexico City metropolitan area sends its wastewater to this part of the river. (Francisco Villeda/Cuartoscuro)
Conagua working to clean up 3 rivers
Sheinbaum said that the National Water Commission (Conagua) has begun projects to clean up Mexico’s “most contaminated” rivers: the Tula River in Hidalgo; the Atoyac River in Puebla; and the Lerma-Santiago River in Jalisco.
The commission is working to determine all the causes of contamination, she said.
“There are industrial sources of contamination,” Sheinbaum said, adding that companies that are breaching regulations are being forced to comply.
“Companies that discharge [contaminants] to drains or to a river or to any body of water have to comply with a norm, and that norm requires them to have treatment plants,” she said.
Sheinbaum said that some municipal authorities are also contaminating rivers with untreated wastewater.
Cleaning up contaminated rivers is “very important work and there obviously has to be resources to be able to do all the projects,” she said.
“But it is fundamental because … we have to have healthy rivers,” Sheinbaum said.
2025 budget is ‘practically ready’
Sheinbaum noted that the government’s proposed 2025 budget has to be sent to Congress by Nov. 15.
“Obviously the social programs are maintained, there are resources for new programs, for education, for health care,” she said.
“There are savings in some areas, very significant ones too, that allow us to direct investment to trains, highways and water [projects],” Sheinbaum said.
“The [budget] package is practically ready. We’ve been working on it since before we came into government,” she said.
By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)
Donald Trump will be the U.S. next president in 2025. What does that mean for Mexico? (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)
Migrants. Drugs. Imports that pose a threat to the viability of industries in the United States.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump would like to stop them all from entering the U.S. from Mexico.
President Claudia Sheinbaum will soon be Mexico’s third president who needs to build a useful relationship with Donald Trump. (Rogelio Morales Ponce/Cuartoscuro)
The lengths to which he is willing to go to get what he wants could significantly define Mexico’s relationship with the United States during the four years of the second Trump presidency.
Claudia Sheinbaum, sworn in as Mexico’s first female president five weeks ago, will become the third Mexican president to deal with soon-to-be President Trump, who is well-known for his unpredictability.
Sheinbaum’s capacity, and that of other Mexican officials, to effectively manage the relationship with the second Trump administration, and defend Mexico’s interests under the almost inevitable pressure to come, will be crucial to the success of her government, and the country as a whole.
In her initial remarks on Trump’s victory, she sought to downplay the risk he will pose to Mexico as president, telling Mexicans both here and in the United States that “there is no reason for concern.”
“… There will be a good relationship with the United States. I’m sure about that,” Sheinbaum said.
Donald Trump is widely disliked by Mexicans thanks to his negative rhetoric about Mexico and Mexicans. This “paint-in” called ‘Graffiti Vs. Trump,” in Mexico City last month created artworks calling on voters not to elect Trump in the upcoming U.S. election. (Magdalena Montiel/Cuartoscuro)
While there is no certainty that the Trump administration will execute plans precisely as they were described during the presidential election campaign — perhaps it is even unlikely — there is still significant concern in Mexico about how the country will be affected by them.
While he is a polarizing — and popular — figure in the United States, Trump is widely disliked in Mexico, in large part due to the various disparaging remarks he has made about the country and its people.
With the commencement of a second Trump administration just 2 1/2 months away, let’s take a closer look at how some of the plans of the 47th U.S. president could affect Mexico.
Trump’s border security plan and Mexico’s potential role in it
During a victory speech in Florida in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Trump once again pledged to “fix our borders.”
He made stopping illegal immigration to the United States via Mexico a central platform of his third presidential bid, and during his campaign outlined plans to hire an additional 10,000 border agents, deploy the military to the border, expand the border wall and implement immigration policies even stricter than those of his first term.
The success of his plan, however, could ultimately hinge on Mexico’s willingness and capacity to stop migrants from reaching the Mexico-United States border.
Trump is well aware of that, prompting him on the eve of the U.S. presidential election to issue a threat to “immediately” impose a 25% tariff on all Mexican exports to the United States if the government of Mexico doesn’t stop what he called an “onslaught” of criminals (read migrants) and drugs to the U.S.
He used a tariff threat to his advantage during his first term as president, pledging to impose 5% duties on all Mexican exports if the Mexican government didn’t do more to stem migration to the United States.
These days, immigration at Mexico’s southern border, where most migrants enter the country via Chiapas, is managed by the military and National Guard. (Damián Sánchez Jesús/Cuartoscuro)
“We got Mexico to give us 28,000 soldiers free of charge, no cost, and we had the greatest border in history,” Trump said at a rally in 2023.
Will he have similar success in getting Mexico to effectively become a second “border wall” during his second term as president? According to a former head of Mexico’s National Immigration Institute, his chances are good.
“We’ve seen what Trump does. What he is proposing is the 3.0 version of the same increased pressures on Mexico,” Tonatiuh Guillén told The New York Times.
“Mexico gave in to the pressures back then, and the question is whether Mexico will give in again. I think the likelihood it will is high,” he said.
Trump on Monday said his tariff plan has “a 100% chance of working” because if Mexico — the world’s biggest exporter to the United States — doesn’t respond to a 25% tariff threat, he’ll increase it to 50%, 75% or even 100% if need be.
This group of immigrants had been put on buses by immigration officials in Tapachula, Chiapas, to be taken to the United States border to apply for asylum. However, they were stranded in Zacatecas, where they finally appealed to the state human rights commission for help. (Adolfo Vladimir/Cuartoscuro)
How would mass deportations from the US affect Mexico?
In addition to stopping migrants coming into the United States, Trump wants to get large numbers of those already there out of the country.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that Trump is “expected to mobilize agencies across the U.S. government to help him deport record numbers of immigrants, building on efforts in his first term to tap all available resources and pressure so-called ‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions to cooperate, according to six former Trump officials and allies.”
There are an estimated 4 million undocumented Mexican migrants in the United States that could face expulsion under Trump’s mass deportation plan.
“Mexico could also find itself pressured, as in the past, to accept Venezuelans, Nicaraguans or Cubans, who are sometimes unable to be deported to their origin countries for diplomatic reasons,” the New York Times reported.
The deportation of large numbers of Mexicans could have a considerable impact on the amount of money Mexico receives in remittances (more than US $63 million in 2023), and completely cut off a much-needed source of income for many Mexican families.
Trump could use all the relationships and connections he built during his first term as president to help him achieve his goals to severely curtail immigration and conduct mass deportations of immigrants in the United States. (File photo/Andrea Hanks for the White House)
Furthermore, the Mexican economy could struggle to provide jobs for large numbers of deportees who suddenly find themselves in Mexico after being uprooted from their lives in the United States. Unemployment would inevitably increase if the economy can’t integrate them all.
Needless to say, the deportation of large numbers of migrants from the United States — many of whom work in low-paid but essential jobs — would also have a major impact on the U.S. economy.
“It would be an economic disaster for America and Americans,” said Zeke Hernández, an economics professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
“It’s not just the immigrants who would be harmed, but we, the people of America, would be economically harmed,” he said.
How far could Trump go to combat Mexican cartels?
Both “criminals” and “drugs” are what Mexico needs to stop crossing the border into the U.S. if it is to avoid tariffs on its exports, according to the threat Trump made on Monday.
While he put the onus on Mexico with that remark, Trump has indicated that his future government could take additional action of its own to stem the northward flow of drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid largely responsible for the drug overdose crisis in the United States in recent years.
In order to combat the trafficking of illegal drugs into the United States, Trump has raised the idea of using the National Guard to supplement Customs and Border Patrol officers and even using U.S. military strikes against the cartels that smuggle drugs into the U.S. (CBP/Twitter)
“Mexico’s going to have to straighten it out really fast or the answer is ‘absolutely,'” Trump told Fox News.
Other Republican party figures, such as Senator Lindsey Graham, have advocated the use of the United States military in Mexico to combat cartels that smuggle fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S.
Former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador categorically rejected the idea that the United States military could be used in Mexico, and in 2019 declined an offer from Trump to help Mexico combat organized crime after an attack on members of an extended Mormon family in northern Mexico that killed three women and six children.
If the United States was to unilaterally use its military against Mexican cartels, it would be “extremely damaging” for the U.S.-Mexico relationship, according to the head of the Inter-American Dialogue, Rebecca Bill Chavez, who was quoted by The New York Times.
She said that such a move — which would not necessarily result in less narcotics reaching the United States — could jeopardize all cooperation between Mexico and the U.S., including on trade.
Sheinbaum is continuing to use the Mexican military for law enforcement against cartels, but it is virtually unthinkable that she would consent to U.S. military action against the criminal organizations, no matter how determined she is to combat high levels of violent crime in Mexico.
In response to a tariff threat from Trump, the Sheinbaum administration could conceivably argue that Mexico is already making significant efforts to stop illegal drugs crossing into the United States.
During the election campaign, Trump also made repeated threats to impose hefty tariffs on vehicles made in Mexico. His threats appeared mainly directed at Chinese automakers that are planning to open plants in Mexico, such as BYD, but in September he pledged to “put a 100% tariff on every single car coming across the Mexican border.”
Trump recently warned Chinese automakers that he will not abide them building plants in Mexico to export cars to the United States. (BYD)
“I will impose whatever tariffs are required — 100%, 200%, 1,000% — they’re not going to sell any cars into the United States with those plants,” Trump said, referring to facilities that have not yet been built.
As president, he also said he would “seek strong new protections against transshipment so that China and other countries cannot smuggle their products and auto parts into the United States tax-free through Mexico to the detriment of our workers and our supply chains.”
U.S. tariffs on vehicles made in Mexico would of course be detrimental to Mexico’s vast auto sector, whose exports primarily go to the United States. Tariffs specifically targeted at vehicles made in Mexico by Chinese automakers could cause such companies to reconsider their plans to invest in Mexico, even as they publicly say they have no intention to export to the U.S.
Cancellation of Chinese auto plant plans would, of course, mean that Mexico doesn’t receive the investment and associated benefits it otherwise would.
Mexico could also come under pressure from the Trump administration to limit its trade and investment dealings with China and Chinese companies.
There are signs that it is already yielding to U.S. pressure.
Furthermore, the Sheinbaum administration appears determined to reduce reliance on Chinese imports. Deputy Economy Minister for Foreign Trade Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez Romano told The Wall Street Journal last month that the government wants U.S. automakers and semiconductor manufacturers with a presence in Mexico, as well as large aerospace and electronics companies, to substitute some goods and components made in China as well as Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.
Such an initiative would presumably be welcomed by a U.S. administration led by Trump, who initiated a trade war with China during his first term as president and looks set to be even tougher on the East Asian economic powerhouse during his second term.
Willingness to cooperate with the United States on efforts to reduce reliance on China and bolster the North American economy — as the Sheinbaum administration has demonstrated in its first month in office — could help Mexico to get a more favorable outcome when the USMCA is renegotiated in 2026.
Trump said last month that he would have “a lot of fun,” renegotiating the three-way pact as he seeks to improve — from a United States’ perspective — what he described as already “a great deal.”
Reuters: Sheinbaum has ‘room to negotiate’
Reuters reported on Wednesday that Mexico “must maneuver carefully” given that Trump will soon return to the White House, but added that President Sheinbaum “still has room to negotiate and soften the impact on trade, migration and security.”
Citing analysts, the news agency said that after a likely deterioration of relations with the U.S. in the short term, “Mexico has some leverage, particularly on migration, that could help dilute some of Trump’s pledges in areas such as trade and security.”
Mariana Campero, senior associate with the CSIS Americas Program, told Reuters that Sheinbaum could say to the Trump administration, “‘Okay, Mexico can take [deported] Mexican nationals back, but you won’t impose the tariffs.'”
The Mexican government, Reuters said, could also ask U.S. companies that benefit from the USMCA to lobby the Trump administration against tariffs on Mexican exports.
A street mural by a Chicano artist in San Francisco's Mission District alludes to Mexico's cultural history. (Fabrice Florine/Flickr)
Running through Nov. 9, Mexico City is hosting its fourth annual Chicano Cultural Encounter, an event that celebrates Chicano identity through artistic and cultural activities and the links between Mexican Americans in the U.S. and Mexicans in Mexico.
Chicano – or “Chicanx,” the nongendered version of the word used by the event’s organizers in their name – is an identifier for people of Mexican descent born in the United States.
The events are a mix of cultural events ranging from art workshops to lectures. This group was part of a poetry slam event held at the National Autonomous University’s School of Sciences and Humanities. (Chicanx Sin Fronteras/Instagram)
The event is organized by Chicanxs Sin Fronteras (Chicanxs Without Borders), founded in 2022 in Mexico City to create cultural projects that promote Chicano identity and its connection to Mexican culture. Touching on themes like migration, identity and community resistance, the Mexico City event celebrating Chicano culture aims to connect two communities that face similar issues despite being geographically separated.
The event is taking place in 10 different venues across Mexico City, including academic institutions like the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), art galleries such as the José María Velasco Gallery, and government venues such as the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL).
“Our challenge as a collective is not only to be a bridge between the communities on the other side of the border and this city but also between government and higher education institutions, and community and independent spaces in places like the town of La Candelaria or Tepito, among others,” Alfonso Vázquez, the collective’s founder and event coordinator told newspaper La Jornada.
Vázquez added that one of the main purposes of the event is to counter negative narratives in the U.S. and Mexico about Mexican migrant communities, aiming to highlight the value and contributions of Chicano culture.
“Chicano culture and Mexico City share a common history, but the truth is that most people here [in Mexico] are unaware of what Chicano culture is and who its main representatives are,” Alfredo Matus, head of the José María Velasco Gallery, said in a press conference.
This year’s edition features activities that include art, poetry, activism, and film. The program includes book presentations on migration issues and discussion panels on education, incarceration and deportation in binational contexts.
This year’s event will also pay tribute to the late Armando “El Profe” Vázquez Ramos, a Mexican who came to the U.S. at 12 with his parents and became a civil rights activist and taught Chicano studies for 25 years at California State University, Long Beach. (Luz Vázquez-Ramos)
The event will also pay tribute to Armando Vázquez-Ramos, a leading figure in the study of Chicano culture who became known in the U.S. for creating the first university program to allow Dreamers to study abroad and return to the U.S. legally. He died in August in the U.S. of cancer.
The principles of “carnalismo” (brotherhood) and community empowerment will be showcased throughout the entire program of activities, organizers said.
Artists and activists from both sides of the border will participate in the event, including academics, writers and members of community organizations that work with youth and former gang members in California.
Guests include activists from Underground Scholars, an organization that supports prison education; artists from Homeboy Art Academy by Homeboy Industries, a gang rehabilitation program; and writers such as Carmen Tafolla and Dulce M. López, whose work focuses on the richness and diversity of Chicano culture.
The event is free of charge. Some activities and conferences will be livestreamed on social media, including Instagram, using the handle @chicanxs_sin_fronteras.
"Pedro Páramo" had its streaming debut on Wednesday. (Netflix Latam/X)
“Pedro Páramo,” an epic adaptation of Juan Rulfo’s iconic Mexican novel, is available on Netflix as of Wednesday.
The 137-minute movie made its world premiere in September in the Toronto International Film Festival and played just two weeks ago in the Morelia International Film Festival in Michoacán.
The film marks the feature-length directorial debut of renowned Mexican cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto, features a star-studded Mexican cast and was shot in locations around Mexico. Its Netflix presentation includes subtitles in English and nine other languages.
The project represented a great challenge due to the essence of Rulfo’s literary work, in which the main character travels to the ghost town of Comala to search for a father he doesn’t know, Pedro Páramo. Though less than 150 pages, the book is a difficult first-time read, as lines between the living and the dead that blur and incidents from the past and present intertwine.
Now considered a literary masterpiece, “Pedro Páramo” sold poorly and received only a few lukewarm reviews when it was first published in Mexico City in 1955.
Its ascent to becoming a cornerstone of Latin American literature, however, can be intuited in this famous quote from “Love in the Time of Cholera” author Gabriel García Márquez: “Without reading ‘Pedro Páramo,’ I wouldn’t have been able to write ‘100 Years of Solitude,’” another masterpiece of magical realism.
When the main character travels to the ghost town of Comala, the lines between life, death, past and present blur in Juan Rulfo’s masterpiece of Mexican magical realism. (Netflix Latam/X)
As for the movie, “Pedro Páramo” was listed as the No. 1 film on Netflix within 24 hours of its release, but it has received mixed reviews so far. RogerEbert.com called it “an alluring ghost story full of visual intrigue and surrealist imagery.” But the New York Times deemed it a “grave adaptation” of the novel in which “the filmmaking is oddly orthodox.”
Mexican actor Manuel García Rulfo stars as Juan Preciado, the man who is confronted with a desolate town filled with whispers and wandering souls. The 43-year-old is best known for his roles in films such as “The Magnificent Seven” in 2016 and the current Netflix series “The Lincoln Lawyer.”
Other Mexican stars in “Páramo” include Tenoch Huerta of “Black Panther” fame and Ilse Salas, twice nominated for an Ariel Award (often called a Mexican Oscar) for best actress. She won in 2019 for “Las Niñas Bien” (“The Good Girls”) and also received acclaim for her role in Alonso Ruizpalacios’ acclaimed 2014 coming-of-age film “Güeros” (also on Netflix).
Prieto said directing the ambitious “Páramo” project took him back to his high school years when Rulfo’s classic was required reading. He called it “an exciting challenge and a deeply personal journey.”
Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Marquez credited Juan Rulfo’s “Pedro Páramo” with inspiring his literary masterpiece, “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” (Netflix Latam/X)
Prieto, 59, is “one of the most acclaimed and respected cinematographers in the world,” according to the Morelia film fest catalog, one who uses meticulous setups, unconventional camerawork and rich colors.
A multiple Ariel Award winner, he has been nominated for Academy Awards for his work on “Brokeback Mountain” and three Martin Scorsese movies, including “The Irishman.” He made his directorial debut 11 years ago with the short film “Likeness” following his breakthrough as a cinematographer for “Amores Perros” in 2000.
“Páramo” was filmed in the states of Nayarit and San Luis Potosí, and in Mexico City. “Many exteriors were required,” Prieto said. “Streets with specific characteristics, plazas, fondas [homestyle restaurants] and the Media Luna,” a lagoon in San Luis Potosí.
According to a release from Netflix, the film brought in more than 375 million pesos (US $18.8 million) to Mexico’s economy, with a production team of more than 550 technicians and artists. In San Luis Potosí alone, there were more than 2,500 workers and 900 extras, resulting in nearly 15,0000 hotel nights booked in the state.
The costume design department collaborated with artisans and tailors from around the country: huaraches from Comala, Colima; sarapes from Contla, Tlaxcala; charro tailors from Aguascalientes, and rebozos from the México state. In all, more than 5,000 garments were designed and made for the film, according to the release.
The soundtrack was performed by more than 30 traditional musicians from Jalisco, Michoacán, San Luis Potosí, Puebla, Chiapas and Mexico City.
Hurricane Rafael already pounded Cuba, taking out its power grid Wednesday. It's now headed toward Mexico's Gulf Coast. (Sky Alert Storm/X)
The Yucatán Peninsula is bracing for intense rainstorms on Thursday as Hurricane Rafael slowly makes its way into the south-central region of the Gulf of Mexico.
Rafael — a Category 2 hurricane as of 2 p.m. Mexico City time Thursday, down from a Category 3 on Wednesday afternoon — was about 350 kilometers north-north-east of Cabo Catorche, Quintana Roo, according to Mexico’s National Water Commission (Conagua).
As Rafael passes by Mexico, it will continue to weaken but bring tropical-storm-force winds to the Yucatán Peninsula and to states along the Gulf of Mexico coast as it takes about five days to move through the region. (NHC)
Rafael’s arrival in Cuba Wednesday as a Category 3 storm took out the island nation’s power grid with over 200 km/hr winds and brought flooding and heavy damage to Havana, Mayabeque and Artemisa, according to President Miguel Diaz-Canel’s account on the social media platform X. Cuba was still experiencing residual rains from the storm on Thursday afternoon even as the storm headed toward the Gulf of Mexico.
Current models have Rafael moving slowly west over the weekend before turning slightly southwest early next week, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. If the model holds (initial models had Rafael heading toward the U.S. Gulf Coast), the hurricane is likely to weaken as it veers toward the southwest Gulf of Mexico in the direction of the states of Veracruz and Tabasco.
Conagua reported that as of noon, Rafael was featuring sustained maximum winds of 155 km/hour, gusts of up to 195 km/hour and was moving northwest at 15 km/hour. The advisory also warned that the hurricane’s outer bands would increase humidity across the peninsula, stoking heavy rain (25 to 50 mm) in the states of Yucatán and Quintana Roo, as well as cloudbursts in Campeche on the southwestern side of the peninsula.
A hazardous weather outlook was also issued for Yucatán and Quintana Roo as Conagua warned that the outer bands would bring winds of up to 60 km/hour while also producing waves reaching up to 2 meters in height on Thursday afternoon.
Yucatán’s Civil Protection authorities advised residents in eastern, central and southern municipalities to take precautions as storm conditions worsened throughout the day, according to the newspaper Diario de Yucatán.
Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN) expects Rafael to weaken throughout the weekend, with maximum sustained winds dipping to 65 km/hour by Tuesday.
If the forecast holds, Rafael would be downgraded to a tropical storm and not make landfall in Mexico, according to the newspaper Milenio. Instead, the storm would dissipate and drift north while remaining 400 kilometers or more off the coast of the state of Tamaulipas.
President Sheinbaum described her call with the U.S. president-elect as "very cordial." (Claudia Sheinbaum/X)
President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday had her first phone call with United States President-elect Donald Trump, to congratulated him on his victory over Kamala Harris in Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election.
In a Wednesday post on the social platform X, Sheinbaum said she was open to dialogue and asked Trump for respect for Mexico’s sovereignty. She also expressed confidence that the two neighboring countries would work together “to advance the broad bilateral agenda that links us.”
“There will be good relations with the United States. I’m convinced of that,” she told listeners at her morning press conference.
Reflecting those concerns, the peso dropped to a two-year low in overnight trading, but trimmed its losses on Wednesday as the markets digested Trump’s win.
Mexico surpassed China as the top U.S. trade partner last year, as the value of goods imported by the United States from Mexico rose nearly 5% from 2022 to 2023, to more than $475 billion, according to the Associated Press.
Mexico surpassed China as the United States’ top trade partner in 2023. (Asipona Manzanillo)
Demonstrating the importance of the bilateral relationship, Sheinbaum on Wednesday also met with Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock Inc, and Adebayo Ogunblesi, director of BlackRock’s private equity firm Global Infrastructure Partners, at the National Palace in Mexico City.
Sheinbaum topics of discussion included Mexico’s economic advantages and the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, the president said in a post on X.
According to La Jornada, Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico’s economic indicators are solid since a shift in policies under her predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a new economic model that she is following. She also said Fink agreed that the peso is strong and now is a “good moment for Mexico.”
However, Trump’s campaign promises have left Mexico bracing for punishing tariffs and mass migrant deportations, according to the newspaper The Guardian. The U.S. president-elect has even suggested he would call for U.S. military strikes on organized crime groups in Mexican territory, an idea that former President López Obrador categorically rejected.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to implement tariffs on cars and other products made in Mexico, in spite of the USMCA free trade agreement. (Volkswagen de México)
Wednesday’s decision to recognize Trump’s victory was a bit of a surprise after Sheinbaum had said earlier in the week that she would wait until all the votes were counted. However, after Harris conceded, Sheinbaum decided to congratulate the U.S. president-elect.
Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, famously delayed congratulating Joe Biden after he defeated then-President Trump in November 2020, waiting more than a month until the U.S. Electoral College had confirmed the result.
Dive into your own slice of paradise with one of these genuinely outstanding pieces of Mexican real estate currently on the market. (Alta Habitat)
Mexican real estate is undoubtedly in vogue, with some of the absolute coolest offerings anywhere in the world. The climate and ambiance of many of its cities and towns attract investors from all over the world. Whether it’s new construction or stunning traditional houses transformed into modern spaces, the architectural and design scene in Mexico has flourished in recent years, and combined with positive indicators in the real estate market, this presents a great opportunity for investment.
Projections for real estate in Mexico, both residential and commercial, for the period from 2024 to 2029 are optimistic. According to an analysis by Mordor Intelligence, the residential real estate sector in Mexico is expected to grow by 4.14% during this period. But what does investing in property here actually get you?
Well, look no further, because here is our selection of some of the best real estate deals currently available in Mexico.
Nature melds with modern architecture in Oaxaca
(Alta Habitat)
With a delicate and elegant design by architect Juan José Rivera Río, this construction blurs the boundaries between interior and exterior spaces as its simple lines harmonize with the surrounding nature. Located in Huatulco, along the beautiful Pacific coast, this area is experiencing growth while maintaining a low profile compared to other Mexican beaches. Here, you will experience spaciousness and breathtaking views of the ocean. Amenities include saltwater swimming pools, a hydro-massage pool, a wellness center and a gym. The development offers houses ranging from 180 to 435 square meters in size, with two to four bedrooms and two to five bathrooms, depending on your preference.
Colonial elegance in the heart of Mérida
(Grupo Inmoflo)
This colonial home in the Historic Center of Yucatán’s capital features beautiful architecture, with high ceilings, large windows and skylights that create a sense of open space and light throughout the property. The walls and ceilings preserve some of the original materials, adding a special charm with a modern touch. The ceramic floors, rustic doors, ironwork and expansive garden filled with amate, the sacred Maya tree, along with the original facade.
The property’s charms are only enhanced by its proximity to major landmarks like Parque La Ermita de Santa Isabel.
An eco-abode on the Oaxaca Riviera
(Alta Habitat)
This stunning architectural project is situated on one of the most beautiful beaches in Oaxaca, Santa Elena del Tule. The views from the property are spectacular, with the Pacific Ocean in front and the rock formations of the Sierra Madre del Sur surrounding it. The renowned architect behind this project is Bernardo Quinzaños of firm CCA.
The location provides a sense of intimacy and pristine nature, as it is only 40 minutes from Puerto Escondido. The property offers amenities such as massages, an outdoor jungle gym, a bar, an organic vegetable garden, meditation and yoga sessions and the option of a personal chef who can prepare dinners in the comfort of your home or provide cooking classes to help you learn new culinary skills. The construction size is 125 m², with 1-2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.
An original gem in San Miguel de Allende
(CDR Bienes Raíces Forbes)
Casa Palikao is truly a gem in a town renowned for its quality of life. Located in the heart of San Miguel, the house dates back to 1764, with its iconic central courtyard and high ceilings reminiscent of the classic 18th-century haciendas. The renovation was overseen by internationally acclaimed interior designer Anne-Marie Midy and local landscape designer Timoteo Wachter. The property features seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms and a total area of 1,157 square meters. One of its main attractions is the beautiful pool at the center of the house.
The perfect house for entertaining in Valle de Bravo
(Alta Habitat)
Situated in a privileged setting with stunning views of a private lake and just a couple of hours from Mexico City, Cardo Santo was designed by the renowned architect Manuel Cervantes Céspedes. It is part of a collection of farmhouses following the farm-to-table concept. Each house features its own garden, and the community was envisioned as a gastronomic hub surrounded by trails, orchards, gardens and water features. The property offers four bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms and 406 square meters of construction.
The quintessential Cuernavaca home
(CGC RE))
This property embodies a beautiful Mexican rustic design, reminiscent of ex-haciendas, yet with a distinct 1950s Cuernavacan style. The property features a spacious layout, a central pool surrounded by a lovely garden, adobe floors and talavera tiles. The house has a total area of nearly 660 square meters with 151 square meters of construction, and includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
A Puebla hideaway
(Antona Lama Inmobiliarios)
This property spans 1,487 square meters and exemplifies the classical rustic style of Mexico. The house is all on one level, featuring high ceilings and mud floors that showcase its stunning beauty. It includes four bathrooms, three bedrooms, a beautiful pool, a garden and terraces.
Rustic sophistication in Tlalpan
(CGC RE))
Filled with light, this house features high ceilings and represents the rustic classical Mexican construction style that is both elegant and simple. Featuring wood and stone elements, the property includes three bedrooms and three bathrooms, with a total area of 660 square meters and 327 square meters of construction. Situated in one of the most beautiful areas in Mexico City, near the southern forest, the garden and layout of the spaces in this property are major highlights.
A turn-of the century palace in Santa María la Ribera
(Raph Desarollos)
This area of Mexico City is undergoing growth and revitalization. Filled with colonial houses, the potential of this zone is remarkable. Cedro 328 is a prime example. Built in 1900, this property is currently undergoing restoration and transformation to create 14 apartments within a Porfiriato-era building with a central garden. The space is stunning, and the structure is awe-inspiring with its high ceilings, halls and patios. Each apartment features either one or two bedrooms and one or one and a half bathrooms, along with a kitchen, living room and dining room.
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
In October, produce prices were up almost 16% compared to last year, due to unfavorable weather conditions. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)
Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate increased in October from the previous month as fruit and vegetable prices surged.
The national statistics agency INEGI reported Thursday that headline inflation rose to 4.76% in October, up from an annual rate of 4.58% in September. The rate is slightly higher than the 4.73% median forecast of analysts surveyed by Citibanamex.
With an interest rate announcement coming next week, the Bank of Mexico is keeping a close watch on the inflation rate. (Archive)
The increase in inflation in October broke a two-month streak of declines in the annual headline rate.
Month-over-month inflation was 0.55% in October, while the annual core rate, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, declined for a 21st consecutive month to 3.80%.
The decrease in the closely-watched core rate likely keeps the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) on track for another interest rate cut next week, the Bloomberg news agency reported.
The central bank — which targets a 3% headline inflation rate — has reduced its key rate on three occasions this year, shaving a combined 75 basis points off borrowing costs. The most recent 25-basis-point cut came in September, leaving Banxico’s benchmark rate at 10.50%.
Fruit and vegetable prices up almost 16%
INEGI’s data shows that fruit and vegetables were 15.90% more expensive in October than in the same month of 2023. That’s the highest inflation rate for those products since July, and represents an increase of more than eight points compared to September.
Varying weather conditions have caused produce prices to fluctuate significantly this year.
Annual inflation for meat was 6.17% in October, up one point from the rate in September.
Prices in the combined category of agricultural products (fruit, vegetables and meat) were 10.92% higher than a year earlier.
With meat included, October prices for agricultural products increased almost 11% compared to last year. (Victoria Valtierra/Cuartsocuro)
Annual inflation for services was 4.98% in October, while energy prices, including those for electricity and gasoline, rose 4.62%. Compared to September, nationwide electricity prices increased 18.07% in October due to the end of the summertime electricity subsidies program in various cities including Mérida, Monterrey, Acapulco, Campeche and Cancún.
Annual inflation for processed food, beverages and tobacco was 3.81% in October, while non-food goods were 1.63% more expensive.
Will inflation trend down in the final months of 2024?
Andrés Abadía, chief Latin America economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, is predicting that inflation will fall in the fourth quarter of 2024, despite the uptick in October.
“Our expectation is based on several factors, including less pronounced base effects, weakening internal demand, improving supply chain conditions and more favorable climate patterns,” he said.
The median projection of analysts surveyed by Citibanamex this month is that Mexico’s annual headline inflation rate will stand at 4.41% at the end of the year.
Bloomberg reported that most analysts believe that the long-running decline in core inflation will continue “going forward.”
The PGA World Wide Technology Championship is also expected to see significant change in the coming years. (PGA World Wide Technology Championship)
Jack Nicklaus may have been the first legendary figure to put Los Cabos on the golfing map when his layouts at Palmilla and Cabo del Sol opened to acclaim in the early 1990s. But Tiger Woods, the man still chasing Nicklaus’ record for all-time major championships, is the latest, and he’s done something locally that Nicklaus never did: bring a PGA tournament to Los Cabos.
The PGA World Wide Technology Championship (WWTC) returns to the Woods’ designed El Cardonal Course at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas from Nov. 7 to 10, with many of the world’s best golfers competing for a purse of US $7.2 million, plus points and exemptions for next season. To the winner go much of the spoils. Last year, South African golfer Erik van Rooyen won the first iteration of the tournament held in Cabo San Lucas with a scorching final round 63, pocketing $1.46 million in the process.
El Cardonal will once again host the PGA Tour. (Diamante Cabo San Lucas)
This year, the winner will not only score a significant cash prize but will earn a two-year PGA Tour exemption, 500 FedExCup points and entry into select 2025 tournaments like The Sentry and The Players Championship.
What to expect at the 2024 WWTC
Who’ll be playing?A mix of young up-and-coming stars like Neal Shipley and established tour veterans such as Lucas Glover, Charley Hoffman, and Matt Kuchar. The tournament has a history of showcasing rising stars, and in previous years has hosted players as notable as Scottie Sheffler (in 2022), Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and two-time WWTC winner Victor Hovland (a two-time winner of the WWTC).
Less noteworthy to U.S. viewers, but of interest to those in Mexico, is the qualification process that allows Mexican players to become eligible for play. In 2023, four Mexican golfers played in the WWTC: Isidro Benitez of Puebla; Roberto Díaz of Veracruz; Pachuca native José Cristóbal Islas; and Mexico City’s Sebastián Vázquez. The latter had the best finish, shooting 15 under to tie for 38th place. This year, four more will compete, including Benitez again.
Isidro Benitez of Puebla returns again this year. (Official World of Golf)
Whatever the announced field, the course they’ll be playing on is the same world-class one as a year ago. El Cardonal was the first ever Tiger Woods-designed course to be completed. The 7,363-yard parkland-style layout premiered in Cabo San Lucas in 2014 and was intended to evoke the “Old California” courses Woods grew up playing. It’s perfect for tournament play, with a closing par-5 that almost guarantees dramatic finishes. Van Rooyen eagled the 537-yard 18th in the final round of the 2023 event, with those two strokes accounting for his margin of victory.
For the 2024 WWTC, players will arrive and register at El Cardonal by Monday, Nov. 4, with the course available for practice rounds on the 4 and 5 before the tournament tees off on Thursday, Nov. 7. However, tickets aren’t available for the practice rounds or the Pro-Am events on Nov. 6: only for WWTC tournament play.
How to get tickets for the 2024 WWTC
General admission tickets have been on sale since Aug. 1 and remain surprisingly affordable by Los Cabos standards: only US $35 per person for Rounds 1 and 2, with the price increasing to $40 and $45 for Rounds 3 and 4, respectively. Or you can buy a ticket for all four days for $139. Children under 15 get in free if accompanied by a ticket-holding adult, with a limit of two kids per parent.
Good luck getting into Tiger Woods’ sports bar. (The Woods Cabo.)
That’s for an entry pass to watch the tournament and enjoy most concession areas. To access the upgraded VIP areas will require a more substantial outlay. Meanwhile, to enjoy hospitality privileges at Wood’s superb restaurant, The Woods Cabo, which commands views of the first and 18th holes… you might need to sell your car.
Where do you park if you still have a car? At a designated parking lot near Diamante with a free shuttle that continuously ferries fans to the course entrance and back. Another free shuttle leaves from downtown Cabo San Lucas, with discounted parking available.
For those not expecting to be in Los Cabos to attend the tournament, it’s still possible to watch it on television. The Golf Channel will provide coverage for U.S. and Canadian viewers, while those in Mexico can follow along via Golf Channel Latin America.
The history of competitive golf in Los Cabos
Jack Nicklaus & Lee Trevino ~ At Cabo Del Sol (1/2)
Nicklaus may not have brought a PGA Tournament to Los Cabos, but the “Golden Bear” has made incredible contributions to raise the area’s golfing profile. In addition to designing six world-class local courses , Nicklaus participated in two of the five Senior Slam events that took place in Los Cabos in the late 1990s and also played in the first of the two head-to-head stroke play events for Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf television series that were held in Los Cabos.
The first Wonderful World of Golf matchup in 1996 saw Nicklaus lose to Lee Trevino on a course he designed at Cabo del Sol’s Ocean Course.
The other Shell event featured two more major champions, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia, competing at the then-new and still remarkable Tom Fazio-designed Querencia Golf Club in 2001.
The Shell show was a terrific showcase for the sport and the Senior Slam drew a host of legendary players since the event paired the previous year’s major winners on the PGA Senior Tour. However, it was not an official event on that tour. It took Woods to help attract an official PGA tournament to Los Cabos — although an assist should probably be given to Greg Norman, another former major champion with design history in Los Cabos.
How the WWTC ended up in Los Cabos
The WWTC tournament has been contested since 2007 and was the first PGA Tour event ever played in Mexico. The first 16 events were held at the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleón Mayakoba Golf Course on the Riviera Maya. However, when Norman became CEO of the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Tour and announced a LIV Golf tournament would be scheduled at El Camaleón, the rival PGA decided to move the WWTC to another location.
Woods was influential in getting the tournament to Los Cabos, with the PGA ultimately inking a 5-year deal to have the WWTC hosted at Diamante, the luxury development on the Pacific Coast of Cabo San Lucas where Woods has designed two courses (El Cardonal and the 12-hole Oasis Short Course) and has another (The Legacy Club) on the way.
Chris Sands is the Cabo San Lucas local expert for the USA Today travel website 10 Best, writer of Fodor’s Los Cabos travel guidebook, and a contributor to numerous websites and publications, including Tasting Table, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Forbes Travel Guide, Porthole Cruise, Cabo Living and Mexico News Daily. His specialty is travel-related content and lifestyle features focused on food, wine and golf.
Jenna Mayhew has been practicing psychology in Mexico for almost a decade. Now, she is here to answer your questions. (Jenna Mayhew)
You may have noticed lately that every Wednesday we publish a “Talk Therapy” column, a weekly advice column designed to offer support, insights, and practical solutions.
Life can be complicated. Whether you’re facing personal dilemmas, grappling with cultural adjustments, or simply trying to make sense of your emotions, we all need a little help from time to time. That’s where Jenna Mayhew comes in. A seasoned psychologist with a deep understanding of both mental health, relationships and crosscultural living.
Jenna Mayhew (center) and the team at Hola Therapy. (Jenna Mayhew)
Every Wednesday, Jenna answers one carefully selected question from our readers. Her approach is grounded in years of experience, a warm and empathetic demeanor, and a genuine commitment to helping people understand themselves better. Whether you live in Mexico, are navigating life as an immigrant, or simply want advice on a personal matter, Therapy Talk is here to provide thoughtful, evidence-based guidance.
No question is too big or too small.
How to Submit Your Question
Are you ready to seek advice? Submitting your question to Jenna is simple. Just comment on any of the existing articles, including this one, or send an email to editor@mexiconewsdaily.com and your question could be featured in an upcoming column. Jenna will select one question each week, ensuring a variety of topics and perspectives are covered.
Whether you’re grappling with a personal issue or seeking practical advice on how to improve your mental well-being, Therapy Talk is here to help. The column is open to all readers, whether you’re a long-time resident, a recent expat, or someone simply curious about life in Mexico and how to live it well.
To introduce the column, we put the following question to Jenna:
“How can I find an English-speaking therapist in Mexico and how do I know if they’re registered?”
Jenna says:
Being an English-speaking immigrant in Mexico presents unique challenges when it comes to seeking therapy. While the country has, in many ways, a robust healthcare system, very few of the many public healthcare services are dedicated to mental health.
Despite this, Mexico does train many psychologists who then work privately. Today, there are approximately 148,000 psychologists in Mexico. When compared with the 108,000 psychologists serving the U.S. population of 333 million (1 per 3083 people), Mexicans have much greater access to psychology support services (1 per 858 people). However, the majority of professionals operate primarily in Spanish, which means the language barrier can be one of the first obstacles for those who need to access care in English.
Additionally, the cultural context of therapy can differ significantly between Mexico and countries like the United States or Canada. Immigrants may need to navigate these differences while trying to find a therapist who understands their specific needs, such as issues related to acculturation, identity, or immigration stress. This can be more accessible in larger cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
In terms of regulation and licensure, Psychologists in Mexico are required to have a Cédula Profesional. This is a confirmation of a degree in psychology. It is not linked to regulation which is what ensures that ethical and practice codes are set and adhered to. Non-psychology therapists such as clinical social workers, psychoanalysts or counsellors do not require a cédula professional and also do not have required licensure or regulation.
If you’re feeling stressed by the demands of living and working abroad, there’s a therapist in Mexico that’s right for you. (Nik Shuliahin/Unsplash)
This means finding a ‘registered’ therapist isn’t as straightforward as it may be in a country with a tighter licensing and regulation framework. Due to this, personal recommendations are often a great place to start. Many therapists in Mexico also voluntarily adhere to international standards of practice. Despite the regulatory differences, the growing awareness of mental health in Mexico, along with a more globalized approach to therapy, makes it increasingly accessible for English-speaking immigrants to seek support.
Jenna Mayhew is an Australian psychologist based in Mexico, with over 20 years of experience in Australia, England and Mexico. She is the founder of Hola Therapy, a bilingual practice dedicated to supporting the immigrant and cross-cultural communities in Mexico.
Hola Therapy aims to give back to the community and one way they achieve this is by providing by clinical and financial support Misión México Foundation. https://www.misionmexico.org Misión México Foundation is a charity in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. They provide a stable, therapeutic environment for some of the state’s most vulnerable children, with a focus on safety, emotional recovery and education.
If you have enjoyed the “Ask Jenna” column, please consider giving back by making a small donation to the Misión México Foundation
